Live Q+A: CV Clinic – Thursday 2 September – 12-2pm
Tuesday 31st August 2010, 9:00AM BST.
This discussion is now closed. To read the questions and answers, please scroll down to the comments section.
Welcome to our CV clinic, a live Q+A session with local experts where you can ask all the questions that you’ve ever wanted to know about creating the perfect CV.
Our panel of experts will be online on Thursday 2 September between 12-2pm, so to guarantee that your question gets answered, please post in advance using the comments section below.
There has never been a more important time to be in possession of a great CV. With huge levels of competition at present – 900 people applied for just 30 jobs at a hardware store recently – it is vital to stand out from the crowd.
Introducing our expert panel so far:
David Shennan, CEO/Managing Consultant, Daisy Thomas Recruitment Group
David has over 30 years experience of helping people with their careers and is the CEO for a recruitment group with roots in the Midlands, as well as London and Manchester.
Daisy Thomas Recruitment has many years experience in writing and reviewing CV’s and know exactly how to make a particular CV shout – READ ME!
David has written for Express & Star Careers on the role of recruitment agencies in the past and, alongside recruitment, motivational coaching forms an increasingly large part of his work.
Nikki Lambert, Advice and Guidance practitioner, Connexions 
Nikki Lambert has been a Level 4 Advice and Guidance practitioner with Connexions Staffordshire for 7 years.
She provides Information, Advice and Guidance on a range of issues including careers, learning and training options, financial support and volunteering to young people and adults in Staffordshire.
Kate Taylor, Consultant, The Fuller CV Ltd
Kate Taylor has 7 years experience advising at The Fuller CV Ltd, the largest Career Consulting and Professional CV Writing Company online, where up to 30,000 people per month flock for professional career advice provid
ed via a free CV review and professional CV quotation service.
Kate provides career advice to all levels of personnel across multiple industry sectors. Assisting clients with advice on CV search engine optimisation and job search techniques.
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This discussion is now closed – see what happened in the comments section below.
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Hello,
Here are few questions I would like to ask the panel:
In your experience, are all CV read throughout when sent for a job application?
What would you recommend (CV-wise) to someone who’s been unsuccessfully looking for work for several months?
How would you explain unsuccessful applications with CV’s that have been professionally assessed and described as ‘excellent’, targeting the exact skills and experience employers require in a particular field of interest?
Thank you.
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Hello Ioana. The honest answer to your first question is probably no, but it really does depend on the job you are applying for and how many applications have been received.If you are applying for a job where very specific skills and experience are required, I would suggest all CV’s would be read carefully in order to sift out only the most suitable candidates for interview.
An well written CV certainly will help in your getting you noticed by an employer but it cannot ensure you will get the job. In general terms we would shortlist no more that 6-8 candidates for an interview, but that does not mean all the other applicants were unsuitable or their CV’s we not up to standard. Keep going Ioana, your time will come. Good luck.
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Hello Iona
Regarding whether all CVs ar read by potential employers. There is certainly no rule when submitting a CV that it has to be considered by the employer. If the CV captures the interest of the employer immediately, it’s likely to be considered. So, layout and presentation, information that is provided and keeping things short and concise will benefit your CV when it is being looked at.
For somebody that has been unsuccessfully looking for a few months – trying a different layout or information on your CV could work. Have you contacted any of the employers to ask for their reasons why your CV wasn’t considered? The Next Step service offered by Connexions for adults over 18 years of age, could assist you. The national number is 0800 100 900.
The CV you have had assessed may be focused too heavily on area of your previous work or skills – a more generic CV selling your transferable skills, goals you have achieved could have a better outcome. Is your CV appropriate for the level of post you are applying for?
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Hi Ioana
Employers are likely to receive many CVs in response to job applications and the initial impact the CV makes will determine whether an employer carries on and reads the rest of the CV. So that first paragraph containing your profile is very important as is the layout of your CV and how easy it is for the reader to glean the information they are looking for.
It sounds as if you have discovered that even having an ‘excellent’ CV does not guarantee getting the job or even an interview, especially in the current economic climate. It is important to persevere and continue to search out the right opportunities.
Are you using your CV to speculatively apply for jobs, posting on websites or sending out in response to vacancies – or all of the above?
Have you had any feedback regarding your CV from unsuccessful applications?
What is the market like in the sector that you are hoping to work in, are you finding lots of vacancies?
Regards
Paresh Damani
Career Coach
Next Step
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Hi Ioana
Due to the response recruiters are receiving now to advertisements, they are using search engine optimisation to filter CVs, so the honest answer to your question is no, a CV will not be read throughout when applying for a role. A recruiter will spend approximately 30 seconds scan reading a CV and if achievements are not visible, unfortunately your CV will not be passed to the interview pile. It is vital page one highlights your most salient points.
Ensure your CV contains all relevant criteria as detailed in the job specification and you should have more success with your interview rate.
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Hi Kate,
I found this answer really interesting – when you say they use search engine optimisation, how do you mean?
As in they actually use a search tool to find keywords in a CV before reading it? Or when they are reading they scan for keywords manually and bin the ones that don’t grab their eye?
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Hi Todd
Glad you found my answer interesting.
Sometimes advertisements will attract up to 500 applications, so many recruiters now use a search engine optimisation tool to filter out the good CVs and invite the best for interview, sadly, the rest will not even get read.
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I was wondering what you’d consider to be the optimum length for a CV? I’ve managed to trim mine down to two sides as I read that it shouldn’t be any longer than that – is that the right thing to do or should it be more/less detailed?
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Hello Jon.It all depends on what information in on those two pages. A CV is intended to give an employer an insight into your experience, skills and qualifications in order to get you to that interview. It does not need to detail your life history. Two pages is an ideal but keep the content relevant to the job you are applying for.
Good Luck Jon.
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Hi Jon
I would recommend having a 2 page CV which is achievement driven.
Your first page will be read immediately by a recruiter and it therefore needs to highlight your most salient points.
Your career history should go back 10 years and it should not be a list of your duties, but a bullet pointed list of what you have achieved.
For instance, if a recruiter receives 100 CVs all showing duties, how will they determine who they invite for interview, simple, it will be the candidates proving to them that they have achieved in their career.
Good luck.
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I’ve had an email with a question for the panel and it’s one that could kick off a bit of a debate:
“Is it worth paying a ‘CV writer’ to produce one for you”
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Hi Todd.If a candidate feels confident they can produce a professional CV then I would suggest that’s what they should do. But, it’s like adjusting the brakes on your owncar. If they work that’s fine, if they do not work the consequences can be painful.
I hope this helps.
PS. I personally would not attempt to repair my car because I do not know have the knowledge or experience.
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It is definitely worth paying a CV writer to produce a CV, provided the writer is CIPD qualifed with an extensive HR background in the clients relevant sector.
It is imperitive that a telephone consultation is undertaken with the client and the writer, so that they can discuss career activities in detail and extract achievements.
The document should be 2 pages in length and highlight the clients most salient points. Key words are vital too, as due to the overwhelming response recruiters are receiving from advertisements, they are now using specific packages which filter CVs for key words.
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Hi Todd
In the current climate, there many organisations who can provide free advice and support concerning your CV and therefore I would advise that you don’t pay for a service! The majority of careers advice giving organisations will have qualified staff who will have previous experience. These could include recruitment agencies, learn direct, online websites such as Monster and Connexions. The Next Step service at Connexions is a free national service and freephone number 0800 100 900. Good luck and regards.
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I have a question regarding referees. What are the options when your most recent employer hates your guts, and the one before that ran a company that went in to administration and has disappeared of the face of the earth?
Obviously I’m asking this question on behalf of a friend. I mean, why would I need advice on getting a job?
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Henry, your friend should understand that a prospective employer will expect referees will give a good report on your friend will have supplied the contact details. If he is concerned about a former employer giving a bad reference I would tell him not to worry. Any employer need to be very careful about what they say about past employees. That’s the law of the land.
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Hello everybody and welcome to the Express & Star live CV clinic, which will run until 2pm.
A particular welcome to our panel of experts, who have generously agreed to take part today.
Nice to see that we’ve already had some good questions coming through. Please leave further questions in the comments below and our experts will get to them when they can.
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At what age are educational qualifications no longer relevant? If ever?
Can you ever leave them off of your CV?
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Hi Mary
Recruiters are really only interested in reading about a candidates history for the past 10 years.
With regards to educational qualifications, if you have a qualification in your relevant sector then this needs to be included. For instance if you have a degree, you can put this into your profile.
Education is usually placed at the end of the 2nd page of a CV.
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Hello Mary. Your qualifications give a prospective employer a view on your academic history and no more. I would continue to include all qualifications unless you have so many they take over the content of your CV,and then you may need to be a little selective. I hope this helps.
Good luck.
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Hi Mary
Early eduational qualifications do tend to have less importance the older you get as you replace these with work skills, maturity, more relevant qualfications related to your employment. Remember, when you write your CV, it’s your piece of work so you choose what you leave in or out.
Your CV needs to be fluid and should be changed by you to make sure it’s relevant to the post you are applying for. Be careful not to send the same CV for every job you go for. So, in answer to your question, you may need to keep in all your qualifications for some jobs, but take some out for others. Some jobs may be looking for continued personal development through qualifications.
Good luck with your CV!
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We’ve all seen Lee McQueen lying on his CV yet still winning The Apprentice – what are your thoughts on exaggerating to make yourself look better?
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It’s a dangerous game to play and somebody like Lee McQueen was lucky! Likelihood is you will get caught out either at interview or when you have start the job which could result in being sacked.
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Hi Todd
It is essential that you promote your ability to the maximum so you really do need to build up your achievements in order to gain an interview, but you must not lie on a CV.
Suppose you get through the interview and land yourself that great job, you will look extremely silly if you can’t actually do what you say.
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Is it best to leave off GCSEs that are below a C grade as well as NVQs at Level 1 as in my opinion they hardly count for much?
Also, is it best to leave off your date of birth as of ageism (even though in my experience if you do leave it off it’s the first question a recruitment agency asks you!)
Could leaving it off be a reason for not shortlisting though (which they wouldn’t admit to of course)
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Leaving out qualifications:
It depends on quite a few factors:
*your age
*your employment background
*what position you are applying for
*what your NVQ was in
*is it relevant to the post
All your GCSEs and NVQs will have value as they show your range of skills, abilities and knowledge. If you have no qualfications after this level then you will need to show these.
Date of birth:
If you leave off your DOB then employers generally should be able to work out your age from your work experience and possibly qualifications. A CV should be about selling your skills, qualities and experience rather than your age. If you do put on your date of birth, employers should not discriminate on a basis of age.
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Hi Chris
Due to age discrimination it is not necessary to include your age in a CV, although recruiters can sometimes determine how old you are when looking at education dates.
With regards to your education, I would include any GCSE grade D and above and I would include your NVQ Level 1. As a recruiter, I would want to see that you finished school and continued your education.
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I’m delighted to say that Paresh Damani of Next Step will be joining our expert panel for the remainder of this discussion. He has been a Careers Adviser on the Next Step telephone helpline (formerly Careers Advice Service) for five years and is qualified to level 4 Advice & Guidance with a postgrad certificate in telephone careers guidance.
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What should candidates put in a covering letter/email? Is it necessary for a candidate to expand on their CV in it or not?
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Hello James. I would use the covering letter to express your interest in the position being advertised.
You may want to refer the reader to your CV which highlights your skills or experience in that particular field.
Keep it to no more than three short paragraphs and remember to sign it.
Good luck James
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I agree with what Dave Shennan advises you on. I would also recommend you outline any targets you have reached, special projects you have worked on, personal achievements, which give you more of a ‘personality’ than you can put over on your CV.
Good luck and regards.
Nikki
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Hi James
If anything you would expand on your covering letter in the CV. A covering letter would not normally be more than 3 or 4 short paragraphs on one side of A4 and is designed to show the employer how you feel you would fit into their organisation and why you are applying there.
Also highlight your main relevant skills briefly and ensure it is addressed to a named individual.
Also say when you are available for an interview/discussion and that you look forward to hearing from them.
Good Luck
Paresh Damani
Career Coach
Next Step
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If you have identified an advertised role which you are interested in applying for, then you should create a targeted cover letter to introduce yourself as a potential candidate. The sole purpose of the letter is to generate interest in you! Remember that well advertised roles will get a high response rate so you really need to make yourself stand out from the crowd and identify why you are better than the competition.
Always make sure that you read the job advert carefully in order to identify and understand the key requirements of the role, which your cover letter can then be built around. Now you can pull out relevant examples from your CV and draw the Recruiter’s attention towards your suitability for the job.
How to make the most of your letter:
Try to get a contact to whom you can directly address the letter; this way your application is less likely to be ignored!
Always include a job reference from the article, remember that a company may advertise numerous roles at the same time so make it clear which of these you are interested in.
Highlight your keenness by researching the company and identifying reasons why you would like to work for them, for example, do they offer a particularly good training scheme? Or are there particular aspects of their culture which really appeal to you?
Use the job advert! Show that you have fully understood the requirements of the role by highlighting the key skills required, and providing evidence that you have these skills. For example, you may like to draw the Recruiter’s attention to the fact that you have a relevant qualification, or that you have successfully managed budgets, or led teams of people.
Always end the cover letter on a positive note, emphasise why you feel you are the best person for the job, and make the Recruiter aware that you are interested in discussing your application in more detail.
Sign off the letter using ‘Yours sincerely’ if the letter is addressed to a specific person, or use ‘Yours faithfully’ when you do not have a contact name. Ensure that your signature, as well as your printed name, is included at the foot of the document.
An effective cover letter is vital to ensuring that your CV is read. First impressions really do count, so make sure that your cover letter is not letting the rest of your application down! Ensure that you are giving the Recruiter a reason to read your CV by clearly highlighting a close match between your skills and experience and the role requirements.
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Another question via email:
Do employers care about interests away from work – is it important to show that you are a rounded person?
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Absolutely yes. An employer wants someone who has some kind of life outside of work – it will indicate their ability to socialise, develop other personal skills, that they have ‘get up and go’.
Some activities will be more appropriate than others to include – spending your time at the local pub every night may not be as appealing to a potential employer as somebody involved in volunteering, local drama groups, sports teams.
Regards
Nikki
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I have just passed an NVQ Level 2 (in Children’s Care, Learning and Development) and received various other awards as well:
VRQ Level 2 Certificate in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
BTEC Level 2 in Paediatric First Aid
Basic Skills Level 1 Key Skills in Communication
Basic Skills Level 1 Key Skills in Application of Number
Do you think I should include all of these or just the headline qualification i.e. the NVQ level 2 please?
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Hi Amber
If you are just starting out on your career path then yes, it would be a good idea to include all of them. It shows that you have taken additional qualifications relevant to your career path.
If you are pursuing a career in child care, most employers now will be looking at at least a level 3 qualification. Have you considered this?
Good luck with your career.
Nikki
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Hi Amber
Congratulations on passing your NVQ Level 2.
I would definitely include all of the above under a heading Professional Qualifications and Certifications.
As a recruiter, if I were looking for a candidate in your sector, it will enhance your chances of me asking you for interview, knowing you have Paediatric First Aid and a certificate in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.
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Hello Amber. If you are proud of your achievements and you believe your qualifications will assist your job search then yes, include them.
Remember it’s your CV and it’s purpose is to get you an interview. Include anything that is relevant to the job being advertised and will support application.
Good luck Amber
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It’s now 2pm and that means that this live CV clinic has now finished.
A huge thank you to our panel of experts for taking part today and for giving some great advice.
The comments section will remain open for any remaining discussion.
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